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Longitudinal Associations Between Reward Responsiveness and Depression Across Adolescence.
Daniel M Mackin1, Brandon L Goldstein2, Emma Mumper1
1Stony Brook University, New York.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 10, 2023
Summary
Reduced neural response to reward predicts depression in adolescents. This study found bidirectional effects between reward responsiveness and depression from ages 12 to 15, highlighting a critical developmental window.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for the development of both the brain's reward system and mood disorders like depression.
- Pubertal development and biological sex significantly influence reward system maturation and depression risk.
- The interplay between reward responsivity and depression during this transitional phase remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal associations between neural reward responsivity and depressive symptoms in adolescents.
- To examine the influence of pubertal status and biological sex on these relationships.
- To characterize the developmental trajectory of reward responsivity-depression links from childhood to adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal assessment of depressive symptoms, pubertal status, and reward positivity (RewP) in 609 youth at ages 9, 12, and 15.
- Utilized structural equation modeling to analyze concurrent and prospective relationships.
- Examined the moderating effects of pubertal status and biological sex.
Main Results:
- Significant stability was observed for depression, RewP, and pubertal status across assessments.
- Females exhibited more advanced pubertal status, lower RewP at age 9, and higher depression at age 15 compared to males.
- Bidirectional prospective effects emerged between RewP and depression between ages 12 and 15: lower RewP predicted increased depression, and increased depression predicted lower RewP.
Conclusions:
- Bidirectional prospective effects between reward responsiveness and depression are evident during adolescence (ages 12-15).
- This developmental period represents a key window for understanding and potentially intervening in the reward responsivity-depression cycle.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering neural reward function in the context of adolescent mental health.
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